Richard III: Calls for the skeleton of king to go on display are dismissed by Leicester Cathedral

Calls for the skeleton of Richard III to be put on open display before he is reburied at Leicester Cathedral have been dismissed.

Cathedral staff said they were determined not to turn the remains of the monarch into a "sideshow".

They said if it was decided to invite people to pay their respects, the remains were more likely to be presented in a closed casket.

The comments were made after suggestions the skeleton might go on public display were debated on a BBC Radio Leicester phone-in yesterday, with several callers – and members of the public interviewed by the Mercury, see below – saying it should.

8 comments

There are several human remains exhibits at the Bosworth visitor centre showing battle injuries, indeed a whole skeleton in one exhibit.
How is this an different to what is being proposed, or will those "mortal" remains be buried too?

Let the people decide. Its already been seen by the press and members of the media and clergy. "WHY SHOULD THEY SEE IT AND NOT THE PEOPLE" The people would treat it with the same respect as them. Do they think we are all peasants still? The people of the past treated it with a lot less respect.

Oh and while we're at it. Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day Queen of England, was a Leicester lass and would never have chosen to be executed and buried at the Tower of london. Can we have her back as well please?

I understand the respect issue, but surely it is really in the public interest for the bones to be put on public display.
It would be a great tourist pull for Leicester if they were shown, as people would flock from all over to see the bones. Much more so than just to visit a "Visitor Centre" or the remains of a half dug up car park.

No, definitely not - the remains of the King should not be made into a public gawping display, they should be treated with respect, dignity and honour before everything is ready for them to be interred in the Cathedral.
There is plenty of information and details, plus reconstructions, in the new exhibition from what I have read - the remains of King Richard are still those of a human being & should not be put on display in a museum.